It was Cheng Yaojin’s voice. From the clanking sound of armor scales, Yun Ye knew Old Cheng still hadn’t gone home. He’d probably gone to the Ministry of War to hand in his command token and then hurried over to Li Xiaogong’s place.
Yun Ye’s nose felt somewhat sour. He stood dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. Old Cheng didn’t even glance at everyone present. He lifted his hand and covered Yun Ye with a blanket. The doctor was just about to speak when Cheng Yaojin grabbed him, threw him outside, and said in a heavy voice: “This old man has taken countless military rod beatings. Every day I’d rather tear off cloth strips along with flesh than be nakedly exposed like this. Boy, can you walk? If you can walk, come back with this old man.”
Without a word, Yun Ye put down his outer robe and stood up. Cheng Yaojin kicked Cheng Chumo, then glared at Niu Jianhu. The two quickly supported Yun Ye and lifted their legs to walk out.
Cheng Yaojin walked two steps, then turned back and said: “You’re all commanders of thousands of troops and horses, all men who crawled out of piles of corpses. How can you all viciously bully an eighteen-year-old fatherless child? My Cheng family won’t touch the Lingnan business. This old man wishes you all rolling wealth.” After speaking, he strode away with large steps. Li Jing’s face immediately turned bright red. Li Xiaogong and the others also awkwardly lowered their heads without speaking.
Arriving at the carriage, Cheng Yaojin saw Yun Ye board it and mounted his warhorse himself. Yun Ye lifted the carriage curtain and called out: “Uncle Cheng.”
Old Cheng glanced at him and said: “Don’t play dumb. If you have something to say, say it at home.” With a shake of the reins, the date-red horse took the lead and walked ahead.
After just a few steps they arrived at the Cheng residence. Madam Cheng came out to greet them, but Old Cheng just wore a dark expression without saying a word, letting maids remove his clothing and armor. Madam Cheng stood bowing to the side, not daring to speak. Cheng Chumo had long since knelt in the courtyard. Seeing this, Niu Jianhu also knelt down.
Wearing short clothes, Cheng Yaojin picked up a teapot and gulped down the whole pot. With one slap on the table, he said to Madam Cheng: “During this past year or more that I haven’t been here, I heard the family’s industry has grown very quickly, very prosperous and thriving. Madam manages the household so well!”
Even teaching children in public and advising one’s wife in private—even Yun Ye could hear the heavy sarcasm in Old Cheng’s words, let alone his wife who’d shared trials with him for many years. This time Old Cheng was truly enraged.
“What kind of talents does the old Cheng family have, what kind of abilities? Would I not know? Without the Yun family’s support, would you make fortunes? Previously you couldn’t even run a tavern well. Now you’re so magnificent—thousands upon tens of thousands of strings of cash flowing like water into the house. You even want to run to Lingnan to occupy land. Aren’t you afraid that one day your ambitions will grow so large you’ll want to possess the entire realm?”
“This old man read the letters you sent to the front. The more I read, the more afraid I became. The more I read, the more worried I got, yet I couldn’t say anything. I held it in until His Majesty recalled me to the capital. Two thousand li—I ran it in six days and came back. Fortunately I made it in time. The reputation of being wealthiest under heaven—the Cheng family can’t bear it, and your Yun family can’t bear it either. Boy, you’ve gotten yourself to the point where you can’t move a step in the capital. The reason is you’re too clever. Remember this, boy, remember it in your heart—no one wants to deal with clever people. They’d rather band together with fools than trust clever people.”
“Boy, sometimes this old man sincerely hopes you’d be a bit dumber. But you always escape from desperate situations, completely unscathed. The Emperor has started setting traps for you. Even the Empress who’s always doted on you is setting traps for you. They just want to see where your limits are. Until today, they still haven’t found your bottom line. A poor Lingnan became a rich land full of gold under your hands. Three thousand elite veterans—boy, you really have the heart to do this? Do you know what three thousand veterans represent?”
“With these three thousand veterans, within one year you could use them as a backbone to organize a hundred-thousand-man army. Who wouldn’t be terrified of such a huge force? Moreover, your Yun family has money if you want money, grain if you want grain. This is simply a heaven-made, earth-set excellent opportunity for rebellion.”
“His Majesty rose from the military ranks—would he not see it? Li Jing is called the God of War—would he not see it? Li Xiaogong, Li Daliang, Yuchi—which one doesn’t understand? But has anyone reminded you even once?”
“What are they all thinking? Among civil officials, those sophisticated in worldly affairs are countless. Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Zhangsun Wuji, Tang Jian—which one isn’t an old fox who’s seen the flash of swords and shadows? They’re all waiting, boy. They’re all waiting for the day your desires expand.”
Speaking to this point, Old Cheng burst into loud laughter. Stroking Yun Ye’s hair, he said: “Good child, you’re a truly kind child. These bastards with filthy hearts have been disappointed again and again, because they can’t see half a hint of expanding desire in you. An eighteen-year-old child in the prime of youth ignores those mirages and uses all the family’s money to build an academy. Haha, do you know how overjoyed I was when I got this news? I drank for an entire night.”
“Fortunately you didn’t conceal anything from the Emperor. Everything was conducted in broad daylight, leaving those fellows who wanted to find trouble with you nowhere to bite. Most wonderful was you actually making Hong Cheng the leader of those veterans. This move—probably even His Majesty didn’t think of it. No one likes the Bai Qi Si, no one likes them, yet you don’t avoid them. You clearly and plainly tell His Majesty you just want to make a fortune, build an academy, and incidentally leave an estate for your child.”
“Boy, is the child in Shouyang’s belly truly related to you?”
After saying such a long speech, Old Cheng finally caught his breath and curiously asked Yun Ye. Madam Cheng also snapped back to her senses and quickly arranged for Old Cheng to bathe and eat. Cheng Chumo breathed a long sigh of relief and helped Niu Jianhu up. The two attentively brought grape wine for Old Cheng, and even winked at Yun Ye hoping he’d say some nice words to make Old Cheng’s mood even better.
Little did they know Yun Ye was already drenched in sweat, his heart palpitating endlessly. In the end, he’d still been set up by everyone. They no longer opposed him, but instead all opened convenient doors, praising and coaxing him to exert his maximum ability for their use. This was the legendary praise-killing strategy.
Zhangsun and Li Er had repeatedly warned him. He himself seemed to have trusted history too much, thinking those famous ministers and brave generals were all kind good people. He’d forgotten they were all old foxes who’d gone through countless storms. He was too green. If he’d had even a little ambition, he would have been pushed to the climax by this trend. The feeling of standing at the crest of the storm was wonderful but also dangerous. In this world, only Old Cheng and Old Niu would dare speak frankly about these matters to him—at most also Li Gang. The other several hadn’t realized these things.
Thinking back now, even Wei Zheng who was always giving him trouble might not have had malicious intent. The strict inspections at the Xinghua Ward construction site, the investigations into various Yun family industries—these were actually all forms of protective care.
The transformation was too severe. Good people became hideous in an instant. Bad people became kind-faced benevolent people in a flash. This made Yun Ye’s brain confused into a mass of mush.
“Like a person in a thorn forest—if one doesn’t move, thorns won’t injure. If deluded thoughts don’t arise, one constantly dwells in the joy of extinction. Once deluded thoughts stir, one is immediately injured by various thorns. Having thoughts brings suffering. Without thoughts brings joy.” Yun Ye recited this phrase several times over and over. He suddenly very much wanted to make a trip to Maiji Mountain in Tianshui to see the old monk Tanyin. Familiar territory, a familiar environment—perhaps they could bring him some peace.
“Boy, I’m asking you—did Shouyang truly conceive your child?” Cheng Yaojin’s voice seemed to come from beyond the heavens, freeing Yun Ye from his confusion. He stared blankly at Old Cheng, not knowing what to say.
“If the child Shouyang is carrying is yours, boy—didn’t His Majesty punish you?” Cheng Yaojin asked again.
Yun Ye pointed at his own buttocks, indicating this board beating was received because of this matter.
“Just this?” Old Cheng widened his eyes and asked Yun Ye.
“Just this. I took a full twenty bamboo rod strikes. Not one was reduced or lightened. I took them solidly.” Yun Ye’s words confused Cheng Chumo and Niu Jianhu but caused Old Cheng to burst into loud laughter.
“Boy, what do you most want to do now?”
“This nephew will arrange family matters, then prepare to take my humble wife to find the old monk Tanyin and properly study Buddhist doctrine for a while. See if Buddha can influence this heart of mine that’s like iron and stone. Incidentally see if Buddha can bring me a child.”
Yun Ye said with a smile to Cheng Yaojin and gave him a deep bow.
“Go then. Old monk Tanyin isn’t at Maiji Mountain. He’s now at Shaolin Temple on Mount Song serving as superintendent. In his last letter he specifically mentioned you, hoping to discuss Buddhist doctrine with you. This old man really wants to see whether you’ll corrupt him or he’ll influence you.”
Cheng Yaojin greatly approved of Yun Ye’s action. Jumping outside the three realms, not within the five elements—only this way could one see the entire situation clearly. Not disturbed by myriad things, one could have a clear understanding.
“Chumo, Jianhu, do you want to go see Shaolin Temple? We’ll all bring our family members. A group going to Shaolin Temple would be livelier. I’ve heard there are seventy-two special skills there, thirty-six divine powers. The temple is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, countless masters. The one with the highest martial arts is an old monk who sweeps the floor. The Sutra Repository is a must-visit. The ‘Muscle-Tendon Change Classic’ and ‘Marrow Cleansing Classic’ are treasures under heaven. Not going would be too regrettable.”
To avoid being too lonely, Yun Ye worked hard to entice the two brothers to set out with him to tour Shaolin Temple.
Cheng Chumo’s eyes lit up. He quickly looked pitifully at his father like a puppy.
“If you want to go, then go. Why look at this old man? But, boy, where did you learn about those messy things? This old man has been to Shaolin Temple more than once or twice. Why have I never heard of them? Did those bald donkeys deceive this old man?”
“Uncle, you just recuperate well in Chang’an. We’ll only go for two or three months and return in autumn. Then we’ll properly show filial piety to you, old man. If Shaolin Temple has good things, this youngster will definitely bring them back for your appraisal.”
“Recuperate my ass. You’ve made such a huge mess in Lingnan—this old man has to help you clean it up, and incidentally earn a couple coins to spend.”
“But you said the Cheng family wouldn’t touch the Lingnan business.” Cheng Chumo felt his father was being dishonest—swallowing back words just spoken.
“Foolish boy, of course the Cheng family won’t touch it. But your mother can touch it. If necessary, we’ll divorce. That way the Cheng family won’t touch it—the Pei family will.” Old Cheng brought his shameless style to the extreme.
He just didn’t notice Madam Cheng grinding her teeth behind him.